ELDORET—The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has unveiled plans to open a new research center in Uasin Gishu County, aimed at enhancing health research in the region. During a meeting at the County Headquarters, KEMRI Board Chairperson Dr. Abdullahi Ali announced that funding has been allocated to expedite the establishment of the facility in Eldoret.
According to Kenya News Agency, Eldoret was chosen due to its significance as a hub for athletics and sports development, which includes challenges like doping that need to be addressed in research. The city’s educational institutions and diverse population also make it an ideal location for advanced health research. “Eldoret is a key component of interest as it stands as a center for athletics and sports development; hence, issues concerning doping must be considered in research. Eldoret also hosts many institutions of higher learning and has a high cosmopolitan population, factors that set precedence for health research,” explained Dr. Ali.
Uasin Gishu County Secretary Edwin Bett, representing County Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii, confirmed the local government’s support for the project, including the provision of land. Bett emphasized the strategic importance of Eldoret in medical services, noting its role as a central reference point in the medical sector for the North Rift and Western regions and home to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). “We host the second largest referral hospital in Kenya, MTRH, and also a host to a large population from the informal sector, including Langas, Huruma, Maili Nne, Kapsoya, and other highly populated areas that require attention to incidences of disease outbreaks such as cholera and Rift Valley fever, among others,” Bett said.
The County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, and Urban Development, Dr. Janeth Kosgei, led a site visit to four public utility plots for the KEMRI team to select the most suitable location for the research center. The chosen site will prioritize accessibility, including proximity to dense population areas, electricity, sewerage systems, and adequate road networks.
CECM Health Services Abraham Serem acknowledged the significant potential benefits of the research center for the community, including the planned construction of a health facility within the institution, which will serve the local population.